Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR WIRELESS POWER SOURCE IDENTIFICATION BY
GENERATING ONE OR MORE SERVICE SET IDENTIFIER (S SID)
COMMUNICATION SIGNALS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present invention relates to troubleshooting, verification,
analysis, monitoring, control
and identification of electrical circuits. More specifically, it relates to a
method of using one or
more wireless devices to accurately troubleshoot one or more electrical power
source and/or data
communication circuit lines using wireless communication signals and more
specifically service
set identifier (S SID) communication beacons.
BACKGROUND
[002] The major hazards associated with electricity are electrical shock, fire
and arc flash.
Electrical shock occurs when the body becomes part of the electric circuit,
either when an
individual encounters live wires of an electrical circuit, one wire of an
energized circuit and the
ground, or a metallic part that has become energized by contact with an
electrical conductor. The
severity and effects of an electrical shock depend on a number of factors,
such as the pathway
through the body, the amount of current, the length of time of the exposure,
and whether the skin
is wet or dry. Water is a great conductor of electricity, allowing current to
flow more easily in wet
conditions and through wet skin. The effect of the shock may range from a
slight tingle to severe
burns to cardiac arrest.
[003] Electrical regulations state that the live conductors to which a person
may be exposed must
be de-energized before the person works on or near them, unless it can be
demonstrated that by
de-energizing the conductors, hazards may be increased or it is not feasible
due to equipment
design or operational limitations. Therefore, in order to de-energize a
circuit, it is important to
identify the correct electrical circuit breaker or fuse. If the circuit is not
properly labeled or
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 2 -
identified, the user must first troubleshoot the circuit to locate the
appropriate breaker, de-energize
the same, and then verify that the line is dead.
[004] Several methods exist for identification of power sources for electrical
circuits. However,
there are several problems associated with those methods. One problem is that
the existing devices
can test only one electrical circuit at a time. Another problem is that
multiple electrical outlets may
be on one line connected to the same circuit breaker or fuse, creating
confusion for the user. Yet
another problem is that the electrical outlet is often not local to the
breaker panel or fuse box
location. As the size of the distance between the outlets and the breaker
panel or fuse box increases,
further issues may be created with transmitting and receiving information
about the status of the
electrical circuit.
[005] Further, a permit is required to install or alter any permanent wiring
or device, run
additional wiring, put in an electrical outlet or fixture, install a
receptacle for a garage opener, or
convert from a fuse box to a circuit breaker panel. Currently there is no way
to timestamp an
electrical panel or electrical system to record the current existing
conditions from the last permitted
electrical change.
[006] There have been several attempts to solve the problems associated with
testing electrical
circuits that includes hardline signal transmitters and receivers, audible and
visual indicators,
lamps, radios. However, none of those offer solutions to the problems
associated with testing
multiple electrical circuits simultaneously. Further, large sites generally
have many systems to
which there is an abundant amount of information to consider when
investigating.
[007] Around 83 percent of experts believe that the Internet of Things (IoT)
will make an impact
on the everyday lives of users by 2025. The process of connecting and
disconnecting is an
inefficient way of communicating. Most devices use service set identifier
(SSID) beacon only for
advertisement and miss the true value of this type of communication. Beacons
are examples of
how humans speak with bursts of information. Beacons can and should be used as
a form of
communication to troubleshoot, verify, analyze, monitor, control and identify
electrical circuits.
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 3 -
[008] In addition, modern data centers have complex data wiring schemes.
Identifying the data
source of a particular data cable is a frequent issue encountered by data
technicians. Current
methods for data source identification or data communication line tracing
suffer from the same
problems of current methods for power source identification as in that only
one line can be tested
at a time. Only testing one circuit at a time is tedious and time consuming.
[009] In view of the above, there is a need for a method and system that
overcomes the
disadvantages associated with existing systems, and that facilitates
troubleshooting, verifying,
analysis, monitoring, controlling and identification of multiple electrical
circuits simultaneously.
SUMMARY
[010] An embodiment of the present invention discloses one or more wireless
testing devices for
analyzing one or more electric circuits with the ability to test various
electrical parameters by
adjusting the input electrical instrumentation, and the receiver device
communicatively coupled to
the one or more wireless testing devices through wireless communication. Each
wireless testing
device includes an input unit for converting a physical electrical input
received from corresponding
electric circuit, into an electrical signal, a generator unit configured to
receive the electrical signal
and generate one or more variable service set identifier (SSID) communication
signals based on
corresponding input electrical signal, and a transmitter unit comprising one
or more transmitters,
wherein the one or more transmitters are configured to transmit the one or
more wireless
communication signals to one or more receiving devices simultaneously. The
receiver device is
communicating with the one or more wireless testing devices through wireless
communication and
configured to receive and monitor the one or more service set identification
beacon signals, to
troubleshoot, verify, analyze, monitor, control and identify the one or more
electrical circuits
simultaneously.
[011] Another embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for power
source
identification of one or more wireless testing devices connected to one or
more electric circuits of
a breaker panel, wherein the one or more wireless testing devices are
configured to generate and
transmit the one or more service set identifier (SSID) communication signals
to a receiver device
simultaneously, based on the input of corresponding electric circuit, and
wherein the receiver
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 4 -
device is configured to provide a user interface for power source
identification of the breaker
panel. The method includes plugging one or more wireless testing devices into
power receptacle
outlets of one or more electrical circuits, turning off each electric circuit
one by one, monitoring
and recording the wireless testing devices connected to each electric circuit,
based on
corresponding SS1D signals received, after corresponding electric circuit is
turned off monitoring
which devices lose power, and displaying electrical circuits associated with
each wireless testing
device on the user interface by building a digital panel card.
[012] Yet another embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for
testing one or
more electric circuits simultaneously. The method includes connecting one or
more wireless
testing devices to the one or more electric circuits, converting a physical
electrical input received
from corresponding electric circuit, into an electrical signal, generating one
or more variable
service set identifier (SS1D) communication signals corresponding to input
electrical signal,
transmitting communication signals to a receiver device simultaneously,
wherein the receiver
device is communicatively coupled to the one or more wireless testing devices
through wireless
connection, and receiving and monitoring the signals by the receiver device to
troubleshoot, verify,
analyze, monitor, control and identify the one or more electrical circuits
simultaneously.
[013] Yet another embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for
testing one or
more data communication circuits simultaneously. The method includes
connecting one or more
wireless testing devices to the one or more data communication lines, then
connecting a direct
current power source to the other end. By removing the portable power sources
one by one and
receiving and monitoring the signals by the receiver device to troubleshoot,
verify, analyze,
monitor, control and identify the one or more data communication circuits
simultaneously.
[014] The preferred embodiments capture as-built information through
image/pattern recognition
and apply this to artificial intelligence machine learning software for
assisting electrical circuit
troubleshooting, analysis, monitoring or identification purposes of power
and/or communication
lines with augmented, mixed or virtual reality in the real world. Also, when
the identification labels
are combined with software that has image recognition capabilities, a host of
as-built information
from the electrical panel has been captured. This also becomes powerful when
the artificial
intelligence is paired with augmented reality, so that live information can be
projected and overlaid
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 5 -
on to the real world through the lenses of smart glasses, contacts or devices.
Once analyzed, the
circuits can be easily be identified through permanent labels or NFC chips
linking the various
outlets, switches, devices and components to site specific information.
[015] Thus, various embodiments of the present invention provide an end to end
seamless
electrical power and communication circuit troubleshooting, identification,
analyzing, monitoring,
and outlet labeling user experience that utilizes artificial intelligence
(AI), augmented reality (AR)
and Near Field Communication (NEC). The user experience may enable average
users to perform
electrical troubleshooting tasks at the level of a subject matter expert (SME)
combined with an
average-user friendly experience. Since multiple wireless testing devices can
be used
simultaneously, the normally time-consuming task of circuit power source
identification may be
significantly optimized.
[016] It will be appreciated that features of the present invention are
susceptible to being
combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the
present invention as
defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[017] The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of
illustrative
embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended
drawings. For the
purpose of illustrating the present invention, exemplary constructions of the
invention are shown
in the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to specific
methods and
instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand
that the drawings are
not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by
identical numbers.
[018] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of
example only,
with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
[019] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment in which various embodiments
of the present
invention can be practiced;
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 6 -
[020] FIG. 2 illustrates a wireless testing device, for performing electrical
troubleshooting of an
electric circuit such as a breaker switch, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present
invention;
[021] FIG.3 illustrates first, second and third type of labels used for
labelling the breaker switch
and the breaker panel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[022] FIG.4 illustrates near field communication between the wireless testing
device and the
smart device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[023] FIG.5 is a block diagram illustrating the wireless testing device in
detail, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
[024] FIG. 6 illustrates wireless testing between the smart device and the
wireless testing device
through a wireless gateway, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[025] FIG. 7 illustrates some examples of how the wireless testing device can
be connected to
circuits through different types of connectors, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present
invention;
[026] FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary electrical floor plan of a building
layout, standard
electrical devices identification symbols, electrical one-line diagrams and
electrical schematics, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[027] FIG. 8B illustrates a set-up for electrical floor plan linked NFC
identification, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[028] FIG. 9 illustrates monitoring the current of an electrical appliance
such as a washing
machine, using a wireless testing device and a smart device, in accordance
with an embodiment of
the present invention;
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 7 -
[029] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary system superimposing a real-world scene
with digital
information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[030] FIG.11 illustrates an exemplary system for trusted timestamping
electrical existing
condition as-built data, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[031] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method for troubleshooting an
electric circuit using a
wireless testing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[032] FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary system for performing electrical
troubleshooting of a data
communication line, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
and
[033] FIG. 14 illustrates the input ports of a wireless testing device and a
portable supply device,
for performing electrical troubleshooting of a data communication line, in
accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[034] In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to
represent an item
over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the
underlined number is
adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line
linking the non-
underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied
by an
associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item
at which the arrow
is pointing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[035] The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to
the accompanying
drawings, in which embodiments of the present invention are shown. However,
this invention
should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Rather, these embodiments
are provided so that this invention will be thorough and complete, and will
fully convey the scope
of the present invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to
like elements throughout.
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 8 -
Overview
[036] The primary purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem of
testing multiple
electrical circuits simultaneously by communicating or establishing
communication
simultaneously (via service set identifiers) with one or more smart devices
without making a
connection between the devices. The wireless testing device is configured to
send one-way SSID
communication signals via Wi-Fi to various smart devices. The wireless testing
device is
configured to receive one-way SSID communication signals. This is similar to
how User Datagram
Protocol (UDP) works as opposed to connecting devices that use Transmission
Control Protocol
(TCP). In the present invention, the transmitted and the received signals are
a one-way
communication and such two one-way signals are equal to a safe alternative to
regular two-way
communication. The SSID communication signals act as input information for an
application,
program or software on the smart devices. As mentioned, the wireless testing
device is only a one-
way communication device and is a safe alternative to two-way connected
devices that usually
form a network.
[037] However, for a person skilled in the art, it is understood that the
present invention is not
limited to this example but, can also be implemented for any kind of wireless
testing device as
known in the art or developed later.
Exemplary Environment
[038] FIG. 1 is an exemplary environment 100 in which various embodiments of
the invention
can be practiced. The exemplary environment 100 may represent Internet of
Things (IoT)
environment, a smart environment, for example, personal, business and
recreational environment
or the like. Various other examples of the environment 100 include, but are
not limited to,
augmented reality, gaming, smart home systems, and home appliances.
[039] As shown, the environment 100 includes a user 102a, an electronic device
102, and one or
more smart devices 101a (a mobile phone), 101b (a tablet), 101c (a laptop),
and 101d (a computing
device) (collectively 101). The smart devices 101 can also be referred to as
receiver devices.
Various wireless networks may also be implemented such as, Bluetooth or other
wireless networks
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 9 -
that utilize service set identifiers (SSIDs). In one example, the wireless
testing device 102 is
connected to a computing device 101d via Bluetooth for trusted software
updates, direction
pointing and live control mode. Generally, the electronic device 102 is used
by the user 102a to
troubleshoot, verify, analyze, monitor, control and identify electric
circuits, around the device 102.
[040] In context of the present invention, the device 102 is configured to use
service set identifiers
(SSIDs) for communicating with the receiver devices 101. In particular, the
device 102 utilizes
Wi-Fi SSID beacon format and uses it for communication instead of access point
identification
purposes. The SSID contains up to 32 alphanumeric characters, which are case
sensitive and is
configured in the device 102. Alternatively, the SSID name may contain the 32-
character plain
text command input. The device 102 generates one or more SSID communication
signals and
transmits the SSID communication signals as generated to the receiver devices
101. The device
102 first authenticates itself to one or more receiver devices 101. Here, the
device 102 securely
authenticates itself to one or more receiver devices 101 through an exchange
of one or more pre-
set SSID communication signals in software applications and passkey pairs. The
device 102 is
configured to convert a received SSID signal in one frequency/protocol and
transmit the same
signal in a different frequency/protocol referred to as signal translating.
The receiver devices 101
are configured to pick up the SSID communication signals. The receiver devices
101 are Wi-Fi
enabled and are able to perceive Wi-Fi SSID beacons or communication signals
and use their
variable SSID names as software inputs. The receiver devices 101 use at least
one of the SSID
communication signals as an input for various software, application or
program. The device 102
is configured to send one-way SSID communication signals via Wi-Fi to the
receiver devices 101.
Further yet, in an embodiment the SSID communication signals include one or
more commands
for the receiver devices 101 to perform the desired tasks or functions.
[041] Further yet, in an embodiment of the invention, the SSID communication
signals can be
used for at least one of, but not limited to, alarming, identifying,
controlling, locating,
troubleshooting, geo caching, power source identification, service requesting.
The SSID
communication signals are changeable. For example, via a dual in-line package
(DIP) switch
(which selects one of several pre-programmed SSIDs). The SSID communication
signals may be
changeable through a webpage. Further yet, in an embodiment of the present
invention, the SSID
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 10 -
communication signals may be changeable via USB with connection to a personal
computer.
Additionally, the SSID communication signals may be changeable over Bluetooth
low energy or
other IEEE 802.11 or 802.15 family of protocols using a mobile application.
[042] The device 102 can be used in various locations such as, but not limited
to homes, business
offices, data centers, resorts, theme parks, schools, hospitals, malls,
retirement homes, theme
parks, gaming centers or the like. The device 101 can be used for various
audiences such as, but
not limited to, vacationers (for customer service, security, location), kids
(for lost kid location, for
assistance), the elderly (for help assistance, patient care alert), home
owners (for DYI
troubleshooting, device control, home monitoring, alarming), patients and
students (for
assistance), data center operations staff (for alarming, notification), first
responders (for locating
SOS beacon). The device 101 may be used for indoor or outdoor applications.
[043] FIG. 2 illustrates a wireless testing device 202 (which is an example of
the electronic
device 102), for performing electrical troubleshooting of an electric circuit
such as a breaker switch
204, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The electrical
testing device 202
is an electronic troubleshooting device configured to support one-way or two-
way transmission of
the one or more service set identifier wireless communication signals for
troubleshooting purposes.
When used in a system, one or more electronic troubleshooting devices may be
used
simultaneously to troubleshoot, identify, analyze, control, identify and
monitor multiple electrical
circuits at one time.
[044] The wireless testing device 202 is communicatively coupled to a wireless
smart device 201
(which is example of the mobile phone 101a) through wireless communication 203
that may
include IEEE 802.11 or 802.15 family of protocols communication signals. The
wireless smart
device 201 includes a high-resolution camera 201a, and a high-resolution
display 201c.
[045] The electrical testing device 202 is configured to test the breaker
switch 204 that includes
a casing cover plate 205, and first and second receptacle power outlets 206a
and 206b. The breaker
switch 204 is connected to an electric circuit breaker panel 207 which is
connected to receptacle
power outlets 206a and 206b through a physical power line 208. The electrical
circuit breaker
panel 207 is the main distribution point for breaker switches in a closed
location such as home, or
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 11 -
office. It supplies power to the breaker switch 204 based on a rating of
corresponding breaker
switch. In an embodiment of the present invention, the wireless testing device
202 may be plugged
into the first receptacle outlet 206a, and is powered through the physical
power line 208.
[046] In an embodiment of the present invention, identification labels 210a
and 210b may be
placed next to each breaker switch in the electrical circuit breaker panel
207. One such
identification label is identification label 210a of the breaker switch 204,
where the label 210c is
also embedded on the casing cover plate 205 in form of an encoded lamacoid
label. In an example,
the identification labels 210a, 210b and 210c are colored stickers. Extension
lamacoid labels 302
(as illustrated with reference to FIG.3) may be placed next to double
breakers, so that the length
of the sticker matches the length of the breaker. The color of the sticker may
be chosen according
to current rating of corresponding breaker switch in the breaker panel 207. In
an embodiment of
the present invention, each breaker switch would have a corresponding number,
and clear
numbered stickers are placed on top of the colored stickers to identify the
breaker switch. In
another embodiment of the present invention, the identification labels 210a,
210b and 210c may
include text that identifies a power source that the first and second
receptacle outlets 206a and
206b are powered from.
[047] The identification labels 210a, 210b and 210c may have variable sizes,
colors, symbols,
characters, shapes, boarders, materials and textures but all of these
differences are for the purpose
of image recognition via artificial intelligence software.
[048] Further details about the identification labels have been disclosed with
reference to FIG.3.
FIG.3 illustrates first, second and third type of labels 301, 302 and 303 used
for labelling the
breaker switch 204 and the breaker panel 207, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present
invention.
[049] The first type of label 301 is a square base lamacoid label 301, and is
colored based on a
current rating of the breaker switch, for circuit rating image recognition.
The first type of label 301
may include text and symbols at all four corners with or without a border, so
that an image
recognition model may locate and individually identify from the other labels.
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 12 -
[050] The second type of label 302 is referred to as a size extension lamacoid
label 302. It is
intended to be placed directly beside or below the base lamacoid label 301 as
to give the impression
of a single rectangular sticker. The size extension lamacoid label 302
includes symbols on two of
the corners. The height and width of the size extension lamacoid label 302 is
same as that of the
base lamacoid label 301, and is used to extend sticker coverage for a breaker
with multiple poles
which can be identified by the end width or height of modified base lamacoid
label 301. The size
extension lamacoid label 302 is also colored according to the current rating
of the breaker switch
it is placed next to and used by the image recognition application to auto
input data about the
breaker switch. The third type of label 303 is referred to as a clear lamacoid
label and is placed on
top of the other labels so that each breaker switch can be numbered
independent of its color label.
[051] Referring back to FIG.2, the camera 201a is configured to capture an
image of the breaker
panel 207 and store in the memory of the smart device 201, so as to receive
and store information
about identification labels of each breaker switch in the panel 207. In
another embodiment of the
present invention, the smart device 201 runs an artificial intelligence (Al)
based image recognition
application for analyzing the image captured to analyze the properties of one
or more electrical
panels and/or switchgears for the purpose of electrical troubleshooting. The
image recognition
application can clearly identify a number of the circuit breaker through
character image recognition
of the identification labels 210. In an embodiment, the image recognition
application includes a
first image recognition model for identifying the locations of the corners of
each label using the
custom insignia found at the corners of each label, a second image recognition
model for
identifying the number present on each label, and a third image recognition
model for identifying
the color of each label.
[052] In an embodiment of the present invention, the image recognition
application uses the
images captured to form a digital panel card. A digital panel card is normally
a basic reference to
identify the breaker in the electrical panel with the system, device or room
it is powering. Panel
cards have been generally notorious for being outdated and limited to
information based on the
size allocated for this information. However, a live digital panel card could
connect the user to an
unlimited amount of information about the circuit, breaker, panel, system,
including maintenance,
live readings, fault history, permits, circuit diagrams, and schematics.
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 13 -
[053] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the smart device 201
runs an
augmented reality (AR) software application to display output information. The
details regarding
the AR software application has been explained in detail with reference to
FIG.10. When utilized
with AR, the digital panel card can be over-laid on-top of the real-world
image and allows the user
to have live real-time information remotely.
[054] In addition to the identification label 210c, the casing cover plate 205
may include a near
field communication (NEC) chip 211 for communicating with the smart device 201
through near
field wireless communication 402 (as illustrated with reference to FIG.4). The
NFC chip 211 is
provided on a cover plate of the breaker switch 204, and is used for
aesthetics and simplification
process for speed and troubleshooting.
[055] FIG.5 is a block diagram illustrating the wireless testing device 202 in
detail, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless testing device 202
leverages service
set identifier (SSD)) framework and Wi-Fi technology. Thus, any other details
related to S SID or
Wi-Fi technology are not necessary for discussing the present invention.
[056] Further yet in an embodiment of the present invention, the wireless
testing device 202 can
be used for at least one of, but not limited to, indoor or outdoor user
position tracking, service
request notification, SOS, alert, assistance request, travel direction
location pointing, messaging,
device status, smart Wi-Fi device commands. The wireless testing device 202
can be used as a
trackable electronic beacon with pulse ability which can be regulated by a
cycle on/off interval
setting for indoor/outdoor applications to save power and mitigate radio
signal noise and
interference of other systems. In an embodiment of the present invention, the
wireless testing
device 202 allows the user to test multiple circuits wirelessly using their
wireless smart device 201
as the receiver.
[057] The wireless testing device 202 supports one-way command communication
beacons to
receiver devices, supports two-way status, message, or security verification
communication
beacons (for informational display purposes only, messages alerts and no
actual command
actions). The wireless testing device 202 includes a circuitry on an embedded
board and is simple
in its design that allows it to use less power, small in size and cost less.
Further, the device 202
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 14 -
may or may not sync and or need regular updates via wireless connection. This
setup is only
performed during the addition of a new system through hard wire connection to
a trusted source.
[058] Further yet, in an embodiment of the invention, the wireless testing
device 202 includes an
input unit 502, a sensor unit 504, a multimeter unit 506, a receiver unit 508,
a generator unit 510,
a central processing unit 512, a memory unit 514, an embedded chip 516, a
battery unit 518, a
transmitter unit 520, and a jack (not shown).
[059] The input unit 502 is generally configured to receive a physical
electrical input from
circuits, devices, appliances, machinery, users and/or environments.
[060] The sensor unit 504 is generally configured to receive a real-world
monitoring input
measured with sensors and/or transducers for inputting real-world temperature,
humidity, pressure,
light, flow, proximity, acceleration, sound, smoke, color, touch, tilt, and
level.
[061] The multimeter unit 506 is configured to measure and monitor an
electrical input measured
with circuit transformers, transducers, and/or electrical testing
instrumentation for inputting real-
world voltage, resistance, current, inductance or capacitance.
[062] The receiver unit 508 includes a receiving antenna for receiving signals
from multiple
devices. The signals indicate any notifications, messages, alerts or security
verification requests,
but do not include the capability of modifying or controlling the device 202.
The receiver unit 508
may include a variable range antenna. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the receiver unit
508 is configured to receive and translate wireless beacon signals to solve
the problem of extended
distances. The receiver unit 308 may also receive wireless beacon signals for
control purposes. In
an embodiment of the present invention, the receiver unit 308 uses the
receiver to pick up S s
and repeat them from one device to the next to extend the network, it acts as
a beacon repeater
network more than a mesh network.
[063] The generator unit 510 is a Wi-Fi SSID generator circuit or may include
an embedded Wi-
Fi SSID generator board and may be powered by the battery unit 518, either by
AC or DC power
source. The generator unit 510 has a variable signal range and generates one
or more SSID
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 15 -
communication signals, where the signals of output range can be adjusted. The
generator unit 510
is configured to variably update the service set identifier (SSID) network
name with electrical
information. The generator unit 510 is configured to generate one or more
service set identifier
(SSID) communication signals that are either present or are generated from a
variable input from
various sensors and instrumentation. The SSID communication signals are
broadcasted to one or
more receiver devices, thus, the wireless testing device 202 is able to
communicate with all of the
receiver devices without establishing a connection with each of the receiver
devices. The SSID
communication signals include one or more commands which are received by the
receiver devices.
The one or more receiver devices use at least one of, SSID communication
signals in multiple
software applications.
[064] Further yet, in an embodiment of the invention, multiple receiver
devices can perceive the
wireless testing device 202 and through TAG filtering, the receiver devices
can receive commands
with a unique user TAG and MAC address confirmation control. In yet another
embodiment of the
invention, at least one service set identifier communication signals are
customizable by a [TAG]
section in the 32-character SSID name for filtering purposes. For example,
multiple service set
identifier communication signals may be customizable by broadcast range. In
further example,
multiple service set identifier communication signals may be customizable by
channel or by one
or more Frequency Bands consisting of 900MHZ, 2.4 GHZ, or 5 GHZ with the
ability to Channel
Hop through non-overlapping channels. The service set identifier communication
signals may be
customized using at least one of a touch pad or a cord connection to a
personal device of the user
such as, a smart phone/computer.
[065] The central processing unit 512 contains the circuitry necessary to
align the information of
the input unit 502 with the proper SSID output. The central processing unit
512 further determines
manual input and creates the SSID output. The central processing unit 512
converts the signal sent
to the input unit into an electronic signal, which is then used by the
generator unit 510 to generate
a service set identifier beacon which is variably adjusted via Service Set
Identifier (SSID) based
on the input signal received.
[066] The memory unit 514 is configured to store one or more of the following:
a unique Media
access Control (MAC) address, indoor or global positioning systems (IPS or
GPS) location
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 16 -
coordinates of the electronic device, electrical information about the circuit
it is plugged into,
S SIDs received for the purpose of repeating. The memory unit 514 may also
store data relevant to
the context of the SSID communication signals such as commands, S SIDs, or
token and passwords
combinations used for security verification of commands as well as, store
display graphics,
software and firmware. The message authentication code (MAC), sometimes known
as a tag, is a
short piece of information used to authenticate a message¨in other words, to
confirm that the
message came from the stated sender (its authenticity) and has not been
changed. The MAC value
protects both a message's data integrity as well as its authenticity, by
allowing verifiers (who also
possess the secret key) to detect any changes to the message content.
[067] The embedded chip 516 may be a NEC, RFID, or HID chip that carries
information related
to the wireless testing device 202. The embedded chip 516 carries the unique
MAC address of the
device 202 for the receiver devices to tap for easy setup, or identification
for security access.
[068] As a substitution for the embedded chip 516, it could be acceptable to
utilize a QR code
Sticker. QR codes can be printed onto clear stickers using infrared ink
yielding an invisible QR
code sticker. These stickers can be useful for labeling electrical outlets,
devices or panel with
encoded data in a way that minimally interferes with the item's visual appeal.
[069] The battery unit 518 includes a power source which, can be either DC or
AC. The power
source may be configured to operate device using stored DC power sourced
though the jack. The
battery unit 518 can be utilized to trace data lines as data lines do not
provide sufficient power to
operate the beacon. The power source and the signal range output may be
variable. In some
embodiments, the present invention may use solar circuit. The jack may be at
least one of, universal
serial bus styles (standard, mini, mini-b, micro, type-c USB), modular
connector (RJ11, RJ45) or
ribbon connector or an auxiliary jack used for power or communication as well
as for hardware
updates and set up programming. For example, the updates and programming are
performed via
direct hardwire connection to a computer or smart device of the user via the
jack to a universal
serial bus (Out) to a programming device.
[070] The transmitter unit 520 is a wireless transmitter configured to
transmit wireless signals
based on the IEEE 802.11 or 802.15 family of protocols and associated
frequencies
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 17 -
simultaneously. The transmitter unit 520 includes one or more transmitters
that are configured to
transmit one or more service set identifier (SSID) communication signals from
the generator unit
510 to one or more receiver devices simultaneously. The transmitted signals
can be used by any
wireless receiver device that is able to use the received signals for a
purpose other than the regular
use of identifying a network. Though the receiver devices and systems may most
likely be wireless
network devices they could also be devices, appliances, and machinery designed
specifically to
receive wireless SSID signals for the purposes of troubleshooting,
verification, analysis,
monitoring, control and identification of electrical circuits
[071] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the wireless testing
device 202 is plugged
into an electrical AC receptacle power outlet 206, the corresponding voltage
may be measured by
the multimeter unit 506 and sent to the input unit 502. When power to the AC
receptacle power
outlet 206a is off and even if the power was "ON" or "Off", transmission of
the generated SSID
signals is ceased. The signals are useful when troubleshooting an electrical
breaker panel as
multiple devices may be used at one time to troubleshoot circuits. The signals
relay the on/off
capability information of the circuits to allow a worker to quickly label the
electrical panel 207.
[072] The transmitter unit 520 may include a transmitting antenna outputting
variable SSID name
on variable frequency bands with variable range. Further yet, the transmitter
unit 520 may be a
Wi-fl transmitter. The transmitter unit 520 communicates through one or more
Radio Frequency
Communications via Wi-Fi SSID signals or beacons following the 802.11
(B/G/N/AC/AH)
protocols and associated frequencies (900mhz, 2.4ghz, 5ghz) simultaneously.
[073] Further yet, in an embodiment of the invention, a single transmitter
such as transmitter 520
is shown in FIG. 5. However, it is understood that the present invention is
equally applicable for
one or more transmitters. In the present invention, each transmitter is
capable of sending SSID
communication signals, simultaneously. For example, a transmitter "A" may send
a SSID
communication signal to a receiver device "A" while, simultaneously, a
transmitter "B" may send
SSID communication signals to receiver devices "C, and "D".
[074] FIG. 6 illustrates wireless communication between the smart device 201
and the wireless
testing device 202 through a wireless gateway 613. The smart device 201
wirelessly communicates
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 18 -
with the gateway device 613 and the gateway device 613 communicates wirelessly
with the
wireless testing device 202 plugged into the first receptacle outlet 206a. The
wireless gateway
device 613 is used to translate one frequency/protocol SSE) beacon 602 to a
different
frequency/protocol SSD beacon 604 with this unit, or possibly beacon to
Bluetooth. In an
example, if the smart device 201 can receive beacons of frequencies 2.4ghz or
5ghz, and the signal
frequency of the wireless testing device 202 is 900mhz, then the gateway
device 613 may be used
to receive and translate this information.
[075] FIG. 7 illustrates some examples of how the wireless testing device 202
can be connected
to circuits through different types of connectors. One such type of connector
is the socket adapter
702 that can be used to connect the wireless testing device 202 to a light
socket that is controlled
by a switch or dimmer. Another type of connector is the alligator clip adapter
704 that can be used
to connect the wireless testing device 202 directly to an unterminated set of
wires. Yet another
type of connector is the current transformer 706 that can be clamped over a
wire to monitor current
flow.
[076] FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary electrical floor plan 800a of a
building layout, standard
electronic symbols 800b, electrical one-line diagrams 800c and electrical
schematics 800d, each
used for identifying real-world items on paper. The electrical floor plan 800a
is a type of technical
drawing that shows information about power, lighting, and communication for an
engineering or
architectural project. The electrical floor plan 800a includes the layouts of
rooms, and convey
information about power, lighting, layout and communication. The electrical
floor plan 800a
shows the location of electrical systems on every floor. The electrical one-
line diagram 800c
exclusively provides electrical information in simplified notation.
[077] The electrical schematics 800d includes electrical elements such as
utility feeds,
transformers, switchgear, disconnects, circuit breakers, fuses, capacitors,
bus bars, and conductors
to secondary panels or boards denoted using standardized schematic electronic
symbols. A
schematic is defined as a picture that shows something in a simple way, using
electronic symbols.
A schematic diagram is a picture that represents the components of a process,
device, or other
object using abstract, often standardized symbols and lines. Schematic
diagrams only depict the
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 19 -
significant components of a system, though some details in the diagram may
also be exaggerated
or introduced to facilitate the understanding of the system.
[078] FIG. 8B illustrates a set-up 802 for electrical floor plan linked NEC
identification, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A first NEC chip tag
804a is attached to
a wireless testing device 806, a second NEC chip tag 804b may be embedded into
a casing cover
plate 812 of one or more pieces of electrical equipment such as receptacle
outlets, lamp sockets,
switches, switchgear, disconnects, circuit breakers, fuses, transformers,
splitters, phone jacks,
Ethernet jacks, and coaxial jacks.
[079] A third NEC chip tag 804c is attached to an electrical breaker panel
810. In an embodiment
of the present invention, a smart device 812 runs an application that stores
an electric floor plan
800a by storing software copies of raw data of the technical drawings of the
electric floor plan
800a. If soft copies are not readily available, a camera of the wireless smart
device 812 may capture
an image of the electric floor plan 800a, and parse the electric floor plan
800a using image
recognition and pattern recognition methods into a format that can be used by
a smart phone
application.
[080] Further, each of the first, second and third NEC chip tags 804a, 804b
and 804c may be
linked to the electrical floorplan 800a. The user may walk up to an electric
outlet such as the
breaker switch 808, and opens the application on their smart device 812 that
displays the electrical
floor plan 800a. The user may then manually search the electric outlet on the
floor plan 800a and
tap on the searched outlet to attach the smart device 812 to the breaker
switch 808.
[081] In an embodiment of the present invention, the electrical floor plan
linked NFC
identification facilitates electrical troubleshooting of electrical equipment.
The electrical
troubleshooting may be performed by opening the application of the smart
device 812 and tapping
the device 812 on the equipment's near field communication chip. The device
812 may recognize
the identity of the electric equipment, and display electrical information
relevant to that equipment,
such as electrical floor plans 800a, electrical schematics, electrical one-
line diagrams, and/or
encoded lamacoid labels. Other information may be provided as well such as
equipment
documentation, including user guides, white papers, method of procedure (MOP),
standard
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 20 -
operating procedures (SOP), emergency operating procedures (EOP), inventory
spare part lists,
original equipment manufacturer (OEM) manual, or an operations & maintenance
(O&M) manual
and/or panel card. Thus, the software application executing on the smart
device 812 becomes the
electrical expert reference and guide.
[082] In an embodiment of the present invention, the wireless testing device
806 facilitates
testing of the electric circuits associated with the electric floor plan 800a,
and thus verify the
electric floor plan 800a.
[083] FIG. 9 illustrates monitoring the current of an electrical appliance 900
such as a washing
machine, using a wireless testing device 901 and a smart device 902, in
accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the wireless
testing device 901 is configured to monitor a current of the electrical
appliance 900 via a current
transformer adaptor 903 connected to a multimeter unit and provide real-time
update to a receiving
smart device 902 when the appliance 900 had finished a wash cycle. In another
embodiment of the
present invention, the smart device 902 may run an Al based application to
predict future wash
cycle times based on current monitoring. Examples of the electrical appliance
900 include, but are
not limited to, electronic devices, building systems, pumps or motors. In an
embodiment of the
present invention, a sensor unit may be used for monitoring the humidity of
the dryer vent and
generate an alert signal when the clothes become dry. In an embodiment of the
present invention,
a sensor unit may be used for monitoring the suction of a pump and generate an
alert signal when
the pump loses prime.
[084] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary system 1000 superimposing a real-world
scene 1002a
with digital information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. The system
1000 includes a smart device 1002b that includes an AR engine 1002c, a
rendering engine 1002d,
and a video player 1002e in communication with the AR engine 1002c. The
rendering engine
1002d is further in communication with a server 1002f through a communication
layer 1002g.
Examples of the smart device 1002b include, but are not limited to a smart
phone, a tablet, a pair
of glasses, or contacts to allow the image 1002a to come alive.
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 21 -
[085] Augmented Reality (AR) is about enhancing experience in the real world
using digital
information. An example would be turning a static image input 1002a of an
electrical breaker panel
when viewed with the naked eye to viewing the same image through a display of
the smart device
1002b.
[086] In operation, information from a camera 1002h of the smart device 1002b
is sent to be
analyzed by the AR engine 1002c. The AR engine 1002c looks for identifiable
features such as
encoded lamacoid labels. Once the AR engine 1002c has verified, that the
camera 1002h is
pointing at the image 1002a of the electrical breaker panel, it can overlay
graphics 10021 on top of
the image on the display.
[087] Thus, the AR can be utilized to navigate and troubleshoot the electrical
panel of the image
1002a with a live digital panel card. A panel card is normally a basic
reference to identify the
breaker in the electrical panel with the system, device or room it is
powering. When utilized with
AR, this information can be over-laid on-top of the real-world image 1002a and
allows the user to
have live real-time information remotely. A live digital panel card could
connect the user to an
unlimited amount of information about the circuit, breaker, panel, system,
including maintenance,
live readings, fault history, permits, circuit diagrams, and schematics.
[088] FIG 11 illustrates an exemplary system 1100 for trusted timestamping
electrical existing
condition as-built data. A hash 1100b string is generated inputting the record
data 1100a. The hash
1100b of the record data 1100a is stored on the blockchain 1100c. The raw
record data 1100a is
saved and backed up on cloud storage 1100d with the unique transaction ID (TX-
ID) 1100e to link
the raw data 1100a with the blockchain 1100c record for future verification of
the trusted
timestamp.Blockchain technology is made up of extremely secure, shared blocks
of transaction
data called distributed ledgers which are distributed among thousands of
computers in an agreed
state of authenticity. These ledgers contain records that are unchanging and
unchangeable over
time and are used for any transaction or to track any asset. Blockchain
technology is said to possess
the abilities to revolutionize Internet technology. It facilitates the
transmitting of transactions in a
safe and unchangeable environment.
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 22 -
[089] A hash is a generated string, that is computed using the record data as
the input. With the
same input, the output hash will always be the same. One way of getting the
benefits of a
blockchain while not paying a fortune for transactions is only storing the
hash of the data in the
blockchain. It can be told by just looking at the hash if the data was
modified. The only thing that
is stored on the blockchain is the hash of data. In comparison to data, the
hash is very small, so the
cost of a transaction is relatively low. The raw data can be stored in any way
we want. For example,
a relational database or just a file system could be used. All that's needed
to be done is to make
sure that the id (hash) of the blockchain transaction is assigned to the raw
data. In a relational
database, another column has to be added to store the transaction id. That
way, the advantages of
traditional storage mechanisms (like queries) can be utilized while still
getting the tamper-evidence
of the blockchain. Any time, there is doubt about the data, the raw data can
be hashed, and
compared to the hash in the assigned transaction in the blockchain.
[090] Transaction ID or TX ID is defined as a string of letters and numbers
used to identify a
transaction between two parties on a blockchain network. Every transaction has
a unique ID. Block
Timestamping blocks each contain a Unix Time timestamp. In addition to serving
as a source of
variation for the block hash, they also make it more difficult for an
adversary to manipulate the
block chain. A block timestamp is accepted as valid if it is greater than the
median timestamp of
previous eleven blocks, and less than the network-adjusted time by two or more
hours. "Network-
adjusted time" is the median of the timestamps returned by all nodes connected
to you. Whenever
a node connects to another node, it gets a UTC timestamp from it, and stores
its offset from node-
local UTC. The network-adjusted time is then the node-local UTC plus the
median offset from all
connected nodes. A blockchain, originally block chain, is a growing list of
records, called blocks,
that are linked using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptographic hash
of the previous block,
a timestamp, and transaction data. By design, a blockchain is resistant to
modification of the data.
[091] Trusted timestamping is the process of securely keeping track of the
creation and
modification time of a document. Security here means that no one¨not even the
owner of the
document¨can alter the data. A timestamp is a sequence of characters or
encoded information
identifying when a certain event occurred, usually giving date and time of
day, sometimes accurate
to a small fraction of a second.
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 23 -
[092] The ANSI X9.95 standard for trusted timestamps expands on the widely
used RFC 3161-
Internet X.509 Public Key Infrastructure Time-Stamp Protocol by adding data-
level security
requirements that can ensure data integrity against a reliable time source
that is provable to any
third party. Applicable to both unsigned and digitally signed data, this newer
standard has been
used by financial institutions and regulatory bodies to create trustworthy
timestamps that cannot
be altered without detection and to sustain an evidentiary trail of
authenticity. ISO/IEC 18014.
[093] Transient-key cryptography is a form of public-key cryptography wherein
keypairs are
generated and assigned to brief intervals of time instead of to individuals or
organizations, and the
blocks of cryptographic data are chained through time. In a transient-key
system, private keys are
used briefly and then destroyed, which is why it is sometimes nicknamed
"disposable crypto."
Data encrypted with a private key associated with a specific time interval can
be irrefutably linked
to that interval, making transient-key cryptography particularly useful for
digital trusted
timestamping.
[094] Linked timestamping creates time-stamp tokens which are dependent on
each other,
entangled in some authenticated data structure. Later modification of the
issued timestamps would
invalidate this structure. The temporal order of issued timestamps is also
protected by this data
structure, making backdating of the issued time-stamps impossible, even by the
issuing server
itself.
[095] A public key infrastructure (PKI) is a set of roles, policies, hardware,
software and
procedures needed to create, manage, distribute, use, store and revoke digital
certificates and
manage public-key encryption. The purpose of a PKI is to facilitate the secure
electronic transfer
of information for a range of network activities such as e-commerce, internet
banking and
confidential email. It is required for activities where simple passwords are
an inadequate
authentication method and more rigorous proof is required to confirm the
identity of the parties
involved in the communication and to validate the information being
transferred.
[096] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method 1200 for troubleshooting an
electric circuit
using a wireless testing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 24 -
[097] At step 1202, one or more wireless testing devices are connected to the
one or more electric
circuits. A wireless testing device may be connected to corresponding electric
circuit through at
least one of: a socket adapter, an alligator clip adapter and a current
transformer.
[098] At step 1204, a physical electrical input received from corresponding
electric circuit is
converted into an electrical signal. The physical electrical input may be
selected from standard
electrical parameters consisting of: voltage, current, resistance,
conductance, capacitance, charge,
inductance, power, impedance and frequency. The condition of an electrical
circuit can be used as
the physical input, for examples, reversed polarity (reversed hot/neutral,
reversed hot/ground,
reversed ground/neutral), short circuit, open ground, open neutral, or open
hot.
[099] At step 1206, one or more variable service set identifier (SSID)
communication signals are
generated based on input electrical signal. The one or more SSID communication
signals may be
customizable to add additional information to a payload prior to transmission
using a section in
the 32-character SSID network name. Further, the one or more SSID
communication signals may
be customizable by broadcast range to save power, modulate signal, and
mitigate signal
interference. Furthermore, the one or more SSID communication signals may be
customizable
based on one or more frequency bands with a selected ability to channel hop
through non-
overlapping channels according to one of the IEEE 802.11 family of protocols.
[100] At step 1208, the one or more service set identifier (SSID)
communication signals are
transmitted to a receiver device simultaneously, wherein the receiver device
is communicatively
coupled to the one or more wireless communication devices through wireless
connection. The
wireless testing device may be connected to the receiver device through at
least one of: Radio
Communication, Bluetooth, WIFI, gateway communication, and a dedicated
physical cable
connection for trusted software updates
[101] At step 1210, the one or more SSID signals are received and monitored by
the receiver
device to troubleshoot, verify, analyze, monitor, control and identify the one
or more electrical
circuits simultaneously. The receiver device may include an image capturing
device to capture and
store an image of a breaker panel corresponding to one or more electrical
circuits, wherein the
breaker panel and the corresponding one or more electrical circuits are
labeled with custom
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 25 -
encoded stickers. The custom encoded stickers are encoded using at least one
of: color, symbol,
boarder, shape, nomenclature, logogram, character, texture and size. The
receiver device may
further include an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based image recognition module
for analyzing the
image of the breaker panel to identify a layout of the breaker panel and a
current rating of each
circuit breaker of the breaker panel, and forming a digital panel card for the
purpose of electrical
troubleshooting in real-time. The receiver device may furthermore include an
Augmented Reality
(AR) module for enabling the user to navigate through image of the breaker
panel, and enable the
user to troubleshoot corresponding breaker panel.
[102] In various embodiments, the wireless testing device is configured to
support one-way
transmission of the one or more service set identifier (SSID) communication
signals. After
generating, the one or more service set identifier (SSID) communication
signals are transmitted
simultaneously to a receiver device. The command output is then included in
the one or more SSID
communication signals and based on the received SSID communication signals,
the receiver
device performs the desired tasks.
[103] The present invention can command devices through SSID communication
signals. After
the command has been completed, it is necessary for the device to notify the
user that this
command was accepted, performed and the new operation status of the device.
Further yet in
another embodiment of the invention, for added secure operations, the device
has the ability to
request a pass key. Pass keys and tokens are established at first setup and
are for one-time use.
These combination sets are random in their relation to each other. When a
token is sent out by the
receiver device, an associated pass key to that token that is stored in the
memory unit of the device,
is transmitted. This confirms to the command receiver device that the command
issuing device is
legitimate. This is the security of the device and since every pass key &
token combination is
different from any previously used and random in its nature therefore, it is
impossible to hack.
[104] T,he present invention may be implemented in the form of a computer
programmable
product for generating and communicating one or more SSID communication
signals to receiver
devices. The computer programmable product includes a set of instructions, the
set of instructions
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 26 -
when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the methods as
discussed with FIG.
12.
[105] FIG 13 illustrates an exemplary system for troubleshooting data
communication lines. The
portable supply 1301 supplies direct current power on the data communication
line 1302, the data
line testing device 1303 receives input and provides a wireless communication
signal 203 of the
IEEE 802.11 or 802.15 family of protocols communication signals to be received
and monitored
by the smart device's 201 software application.
[106] The portable supply 1301 may supply any form of energy to the line, for
example
Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC). In some variations, the data
line testing device
1303 will host its own battery, and portable supply 1301 may supply light for
optical testing and
the data communication line 1302 may be a fiber optic line.
[107] FIG 14 illustrates exemplary input ports 1401a and 1401b of the portable
supply 1301 and
the data line testing device 1303.
[108] Further, the input ports 1401a and 1401b may be any type of data port
for example: Optical,
PS/2, Serial port, Parallel Port, Centronics Port, Audio Port, S/PDIF
/TOSLINK, Video Port,
Digital Video Interface (DVI), Display Port, RCA Connector, Component Video, S-
Video, HDMI,
USB, RJ-45, RJ-11, e-SATA or any other lesser known computer ports.
[109] The present invention may be implemented for any environment having
multiple devices.
Various environments are discussed in FIG. 1 but the invention may be
implemented for other
environments although not mentioned.
[110] The wireless communication device as described in the present invention
or any of its
components, may be embodied in the form of a computer system. Typical examples
of a computer
system include a general-purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor, a
micro-controller, a
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 27 -
peripheral integrated circuit element, and other devices or arrangements of
devices that are capable
of implementing the method of the present invention.
[111] The computer system comprises a computer, an input device, a display
unit and the
Internet. The computer further comprises a microprocessor. The microprocessor
is connected to a
communication bus. The computer also includes a memory. The memory may include
Random
Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM). The computer system further
comprises
a storage device. The storage device can be a hard disk drive or a removable
storage drive such as
a floppy disk drive, optical disk drive, etc. The storage device can also be
other similar means for
loading computer programs or other instructions into the computer system. The
computer system
also includes a communication unit. The communication unit communication unit
allows the
computer to connect to other databases and the Internet through an I/0
interface. The
communication unit allows the transfer as well as reception of data from other
databases. The
communication unit may include a modem, an Ethernet card, or any similar
device which enables
the computer system to connect to databases and networks such as LAN, MAN, WAN
and the
Internet. The computer system facilitates inputs from a user through input
device, accessible to the
system through I/O interface.
[112] The computer system executes a set of instructions that are stored in
one or more storage
elements, in order to process input data. The storage elements may also hold
data or other
information as desired. The storage element may be in the form of an
information source or a
physical memory element present in the processing machine.
[113] The set of instructions may include one or more commands that instruct
the processing
machine to perform specific tasks that constitute the method of the present
invention. The set of
instructions may be in the form of a software program. Further, the software
may be in the form
of a collection of separate programs, a program module with a larger program
or a portion of a
program module, as in the present invention. The software may also include
modular programming
in the form of object-oriented programming. The processing of input data by
the processing
machine may be in response to user commands, results of previous processing or
a request made
by another processing machine.
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 28 -
[114] For a person skilled in the art, it is understood that these are
exemplary case scenarios and
exemplary snapshots discussed for understanding purposes, however, many
variations to these can
be implemented in order to detect objects (primarily human bodies) in
video/image frames.
[115] In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplary
embodiments of
the present invention. Although specific terms are employed, they are used in
a generic and
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the
present invention being
defined by the following claims. Those skilled in the art will recognize that
the present invention
admits of a number of modifications, within the spirit and scope of the
inventive concepts, and that
it may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been
described herein. It is
intended by the following claims to claim all such modifications and
variations which fall within
the true scope of the present invention.
[116] Generally speaking it is believed there is no solution to circuit
mapping multiple circuits
simultaneously at arbitrarily large distances. Circuit mapping systems run
into issues with signal
strength because of the distance and/or signal interference because of the
multiple devices being
used simultaneously. All previous solutions to this problem require some form
of real-time
communication of information between an entity monitoring the line and an
entity creating the
electrical event such as cycling various line interruption devices (breakers,
electrical disconnect
switches, fuses, etc.). By using a relative timestamp chronograph circuit or
program to monitor the
milliseconds since the device last booted and comparing this data to the
relative and/or absolute
timestamps of the smart phone application log created from directing the user
via the software
application to create the event we can quickly deduce which circuit mapping
device was controlled
by which line interruption device.
[117] The method used to transmit electrical event history information from
the circuit mapping
device to the device running the software application recording the results
and outputting the
digital circuit directory or panel schedule may comprise a "connected" or an
"unconnected"
solution. Where "connected" refers to create some form of local area network
or pairing system
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
- 29 -
and "unconnected" refers to monitoring the beacons of a free-standing system.
The result could be
replicated on either system by utilizing any of the global wireless standards.
[118] Additionally, any other utility (water, air, gas etc.) could essentially
be mapped with this
method by creating and monitoring similar events via their line control
systems (ie. using a valve
instead of a breaker). Other electrical circuits such as communication lines
could use this method
(ethernet, coax, or twisted pair) and even fiber optic communication lines can
be mapped utilizing
our method.
[119] After being mapped the electrical outlets, devices, appliances,
equipment and such, may
be identified with a label that has a 4-digit code that can be easily
remembered and manually
entered into the software application to access the locally or remotely stored
digital records.
Electrical information can then be quickly retrieved such as power source
location, circuit capacity,
maintenance records, permits, warranties, manuals, operating procedures,
serial numbers, model
numbers, and any related data the user requires to be stored.
[120] Mapping devices can monitor lines in, in various ways using this method
such as plugging
into outlets, monitoring power at switches with non-contact voltage testers,
monitoring feeds with
current transformers and any other electrical instrumentation.
50340674.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-13
